WAI' OLU OCEAN CUISINE

WAI' OLU OCEAN CUISINE

TRUMP INTERNATIONAL HOTEL WAIKIKI

223 SARATOGA ROAD

HONOLULU, HI 96815

808-683-7456

HOURS: Daily 4PM - 9PM / Closed Monday and Tuesday

https://www.trumphotels.com/waikiki/dining/honolulu-restaurants

https://www.yelp.com/biz/waiolu-ocean-cuisine-honolulu-2https://www.facebook.com/pg/trump.hotel.waikiki/events/?ref=page_internalhttps://www.instagram.com/p/BknotLBFvXp/?taken-by=trump

We wanted to eat some seafood and have not been to Wai' Olu Ocean Cuisine in years.  Decided to give it a try and headed to Waikiki right before sunset.  Perfect timing as the indoor/outdoor seating at Wai' Olu is perfect for the sunset and view.  From the outset here the limited staff was polite, engaging and attentive.  The Hostess got us through the COVID-19 check with a quick scan of our vaccination QR codes and I.D.  We were seated on the lanai overlooking the park with a sparse ocean view.  Our waitress was a superstar handling the entire restaurant solo and doing a great job.  She visited often and was very professional and gracious.  We started with a bit of Sushi and went for the Firecracker Roll.  This was the best dish of the night and we loved it.  Super fresh and the Habanero Masago was outstanding.  Just a bit of heat.  Next up was the Sesame Tuna Tataki which was our second favorite dish of the night.  Lightly seared fresh Ahi with perfectly Pickled Onions and a fresh, light sauce.  The Sensei Farms Hydroponic Lettuce was perfect to share and we loved the fresh greens and dressing.  I ordered the Hebi which is a local Spearfish.  While the menu stated that it was served with Creamed Kahuku Corn, both me and my Wife couldn't taste the corn flavor at all.

The fish was a bit dry and pretty flavorless.  My Wife ordered the House Made Squid Ink Pasta which came in a bowl and looked like a mess.  The Seafood was small and unrecognizable.  They use small Bay Scallops which are tasteless.  We both thought this dish was just ok. 

So this was a 50/50 review with the Appetizers and Salads getting high marks and the entrees missing the mark.  I liked the atmosphere and service.

Click link below to view previous posts on Wai' Olu Ocean Cuisine;

https://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2012/10/waiolu-trump-waikiki.html

https://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2010/05/waiolu-at-trump-waikikig.html

WAI' OLU OCEAN CUISINE FIRECRACKER ROLL

WAI' OLU MENU

SESAME TUNA TATAKI

SENSEI FARMS HYDROPONIC LETTUCE

SQUID INK PASTA WITH SEAFOOD

FRESH HEBI

SUNSET VIEW AT WAI' OLU OCEAN CUISINE

DATE NIGHT AT WAI' OLU

 

NO BUN BURGER

BREAKFAST AT HOME

Opened the refrigerator to find a burger leftover from a few days ago.  Decided to have it for breakfast.  Topped with Tomato, Onion and Avocado.  Delicious!

NO BUN BURGER WITH AVOCADO

 

MOZZARELLA STUFFED SAUSAGE WITH HEARTS OF PALM SPAGHETTI

DINNER AT HOME

I literally opened the refrigerator and saw two Italian Sausage and Mozzarella Cheese Sticks.  Bam...I thought of this dish in seconds.  Stuffed the Sausage with the Mozzarella Stick and baked at 400 degrees for around 35 minutes with some Bertolli's Tomato Basil Sauce.  Served with Hearts of Palm Spaghetti to stay low carb.  The Hearts of Palm worked well and was not bad at all.  I soaked it in Almond Milk for 30 minutes, rinsed and then heated it up with the Tomato Sauce.  My Wife really loved the Mozzarella Stuffed Sausage and asked for more.

MOZZARELLA STUFFED SAUSAGE WITH HEARTS OF PALM PASTA

CUT SAUSAGE OPEN 

LAY IN THE MOZZARELLA

WRAP SAUSAGE AROUND CHEESE

PLACE IN OVEN SAFE PAN WITH TOMATO SAUCE

BAKE AT 400 DEGREES FOR AROUND 35 MINUTES

GOLDEN AND DELICIOUS

PERFECT STUFFED SAUSAGE WITH MOZZARELLA

SERVED WITH HEARTS OF PALM PASTA

HEARTS OF PALM SPAGHETTI

SOAKED IN ALMOND MILK FOR 30 MINUTES AND THEN RINSED

HEARTS OF PALM SPAGHETTI

 

FRESCA VIDA BOWLS - POLO ASADO CAULIFLOWER BOWL

DINNER AT HOME

While shopping at Costco, we saw these Polo Asado Cauliflower Bowls and thought they might be good to have for the nights when we don't want to cook.  Also thought they would be great to take to work for a quick lunch.  Well I microwaved the bowl for five minutes and topped it with a little hot sauce.  This was terrible.  Really bad.  Very little chicken and it was tasteless.  I took a few bites and then threw the rest in the trash.  Now we have three more of these that I will never eat.

FRESCA VIDA BOWLS - POLO ASADO CAULIFLOWER BOWL

RICED CAULIFLOWER WITH CHICKEN

COOKING DIRECTIONS

YA YA'S CHOPHOUSE AND SEAFOOD

YA YA'S CHOPHOUSE AND SEAFOOD

508 KEAWE STREET

HONOLULU, HI 96813

808-725-4187

HOURS:  Daily 5PM - 10PM / Closed Tuesday

https://www.yayaschophouse.com

https://www.yelp.com/biz/ya-ya-s-chophouse-and-seafood-honolulu

https://www.facebook.com/pg/yayaschophouse/posts/

https://www.instagram.com/yayas_chophouse/?hl=en

When a friend of mine that I had not seen in awhile said to meet him at Ya Ya's Chophouse and sit at the bar, I was happy because I had never dined here and wanted to check out the place.  I arrived at 5PM when they open and there was already people in line for Happy Hour.   The Hostess/Manager greeted me as I entered the door.  Even though she was wearing a mask I could tell she was smiling and happy.  She greeted me politely and went through the 

COVID-19 protocols that restaurants in Hawaii now have to do before you enter.

After showing my COVID-19 vaccination card and I.D. they had me fill out a contact tracing form which is uploaded via a QR code on your phone.  Once done you are in.  Turns out my Buddy is a regular here so he got a nice greeting and introduced me to the Manager.  We sat at the bar and started ordering.  I felt a little funny because I have not sat at a bar and ate in what seems like years now.  The Bartender was super friendly and attentive.  Great service all night.

Happy Hour wine is only $6 per glass and large ice cold beers are $5.  I ordered the Ahi Poke which is not on the Happy Hour menu.  It was delicious and had lots of onions which I love.

The Manager sent over some complimentary Mini Spicy Chicken Tacos which are not that mini at all.  Lots of seasoned Chicken piled high.  Delicious.  I told the Bartender that I wanted a Petite Filet medium rare and Foie Gras.  My buddy ordered a Caesar Salad and Scallops.

My steak was cooked to perfection and seasoned just right.  There was a small dish of Pepper Steak Sauce served with the steak.  First I thought who would want to put sauce over this beautiful steak.  Then I tried the Pepper Sauce and wow - it was frickin delicious.  It really went well with the steak but did not overpower the taste of the meat.  Really good steak AND sauce.  The Foie Gras was prepared perfectly and  delicious.  While I was eating and enjoying many glasses of wine I could only think about coming back here with my Wife.  I have not had a feeling like this at a restaurant since La Vie.  Cannot wait to return to Ya Ya's and try some more of their food

FILET AND FOIE GRAS

YA YA'S CHOPHOUSE AND SEAFOOD

A RARE DINNER AT THE BAR FOR ME

YA YA'S HAPPY HOUR MENU

YA YA'S CHOPHOUSE AND SEAFOOD MENU

AHI POKE

NOT SO MINI SPICY CHICKEN TACOS

CAESAR SALAD

SCALLOPS

GREAT DINNER AT YA YA'S

ZUCCHINI LASAGNA

DINNER AT HOME

Wow...this Zucchini Lasagna came out tasting so good that I wanted to throw a party and invite some friends over to eat low carb with us.  This had all the great Lasagna flavors with the meats and cheeses.  Pretty easy to make too.  I started by slicing the Zucchini in strips with a knife.  If my Wife was home when making this she would have used the mandoline.  I mixed  a bowl of Ricotta Cheese with two eggs and Basil. Grated some Mozzarella and Parmesan Cheeses and set aside.  I made the meat sauce a few days earlier for Zucchini Spaghetti.  Ground Beef, Italian Sausage, Onion, Carrots, Celery, Garlic, Oregano and Bertolli's Tomato and Basil Sauce.  I put salt and pepper on the Zucchini and then grilled it on both sides.  Now just had to layer all the ingredients in a baking dish.  Baked at 400 degrees for around 35 minutes.  This is so good and it gets even better after refrigerating for a day.

ZUCCHINI LASAGNA

GRILLED AND SEASONED ZUCCHINI LAYER ON BOTTOM

MIXTURE OF RICOTTA CHEESE, EGGS AND BASIL

LAYER OF MEAT SAUCE

GRATED MOZZARELLA AND PARMESANS CHEESES

ANOTHER LAYER OF GRILLED ZUCCHINI

MORE RICOTTA MIXTURE

ANOTHER LAYER OF MEAT SAUCE AND CHEESES

ONE LAST LAYER OF GRILLED ZUCCHINI TOPPED WITH CHEESES

BAKED AT 400 DEGREES FOR ABOUT 35 MINUTES

PERFECT AND DELICIOUS ZUCCHINI LASAGNA

LOW CARB ZUCCHINI LASAGNA ON THE LANAI

LOW CARB SHRIMP TEMPURA TACOS

DINNER AT HOME

Taco Tuesday at Casa de Santos and we once again went with Shrimp Tempura Tacos.  These are one of our all time favorite Tacos and every time I eat them, I say wow.  We use A La Madre low carb tortillas which taste like normal tortillas.  Love them.  Highly recommend you try making these at home.  My Daughter actually made these at her college apartment in California the very same night.  We buy the Shrimp Tempura from Costco and then assemble.

Only takes 14 minutes to heat up the Shrimp and while that is happening I do the prep work.

First make the White Sauce with half Mayonnaise and half Plain Yogurt.  Mix well with a nice squeeze of Lime Juice.  Shred some Cabbage and Cheddar Cheese.  Make Pico de Gallo (Onion, Tomato, Jalapeño with a squeeze of Lime Juice).  To assemble heat your Corn Tortillas and then top with Cabbage, White Sauce and some Hot Sauce.  Place the Tempura on top of the Cabbage and coat with a little of the Tempura Sauce that comes with the Shrimp.  Add Shredded Cheese, Pico de Gallo and a little Cotija Cheese and Avocado slice if you have it.  Take a bite and fall in love with these Shrimp Tempura Tacos.

SHRIMP TEMPURA TACOS

LOW CARB WITH A LA MADRE LOW CARB TORTILLAS

MY PREP IS DONE

 

TACO BELL POWER BOWL PROTEIN STYLE

LUNCH AT THE OFFICE

Went for a Taco Bell Steak Power Bowl for lunch.  I ordered it Protein style with no Rice or Beans.  This was actually very good, filling and satisfying.

TACO BELL STEAK POWER BOWL PROTEIN STYLE